If there's one thing that scares and fascinates me at the same time, it's a snake. I can't help it - snakes just give me the heebie-jeebies.

Take for instance, the black mamba snake:

Know Thine Enemy: The black mamba is the largest and most deadly snake in Africa. It also happens to be the fastest moving snake in the world. In short, this snake is a killing machine. The Black Mamba gets its name not from the fact that it has black skin, but because it is black on the inside of its mouth. The skin of a black mamba is actually gray to olive green. [...]

How mean are they? Black Mambas are mean mothers. They will readily attack when threatened. They’ll make multiple attacks, aiming at the head and body. With each bite, they inject their super deadly venom. One bite from a black mamba has enough venom to kill 120-140 men. The venom paralyzes the muscles used for breathing and the victim consequently dies from suffocation.

How could you not be scared? I'd pee in my pants if I saw that snake crawling around near me.

BLACK MAMBA IS NOT ONLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SNAKE IN THE WORLD ITS ALSO THE MOST DANGEROUS SNAKE. ITS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS THAN RATTLE SNAKE ALSO. NOT ONLY BECAUSE ITS VENOM IS DEADLY BUT ALSO IT CAN DELIVER UPTO 300MG OF VENOM FROM A SINGLE BITE. IF IT BITES A HUMAN OF FINGER TIPS OF LEGS OF HANDS OR IN THE TORSO THE DEATH MAY TAKE UPTO 4HOURS TO COME. BUT IF IT BITES ON THE FACE OR HEAD THE DEATH MAY COME IN 20 MINUTES.

BTW< I've killed only one snake in my life. It was when I was really young, (20s), and I just had to try the ever famous everything tastes like chicken saying.Rattlesnake does not taste like chicken, it tastes like eel. Which is ok with me cause eel is tasty.

That's really unfortunate you're freaked out by snaked. My pet cornsnake has taught me that snakes are fragile, timid creatures, that are also beautiful and relaxing. Unfortunately there's still alot of people who don't give them a chance and miss out on a wonderful creature :{

Snakes are cool, not that I would have one as a pet. But I've caught many poisonous and non by hand. They're just reacting to what you do. If you feel threatened they can tell and will become hostile.Never had so much as a rattle sound to hand catching Diamondbacks. Fact is the common garden or black racer is more likely to strike.

I've dispatched so many snakes with shovels over the years... Surely nobody holding a shovel in his or her hands need fear a counter-attack from a snake they are in the process of chopping into pieces?